ByChristopher M. Bellitto | November 15, 2016

(RNS) On Nov. 19 at the Vatican, Pope Francis will officially name – or “create,” as the Catholic Church prefers to say – 17 new cardinals. What is a cardinal anyway? Where did they come from? What do they do? Let us ‘Splain …

(RNS) March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. But was there a real St. Patrick? Did he drive the snakes out of Ireland or use the shamrock to explain the Trinity? Why should this fifth-century priest be remembered at all? Let us ‘Splain.